Poor mental health was the biggest reason for sickness absence at Warwickshire County Council last year, a report has revealed.
Stress and mental ill health accounted for 35% of all sickness absence in 2023-24 – rising to 40% in Warwickshire’s young people’s services and social care teams – up from 28% the previous year.
The council is investigating the reasons behind the rise, and said its stress and mental health cases were becoming increasingly complex.
However, a report to cabinet said the increase was ‘in line with the national picture’.
Overall, staff at the local authority took 15,000 days off because of stress and mental ill health last year.
It cost the council, which employs just over 5,100 people, 3.45 days per full-time equivalent (FTE) post.
Total sickness absence was 9.86 days per FTE post, against a target of eight days.
The council said: ‘Targeted activity will be focused on teams with particularly high levels of stress and mental health absence to ensure individuals are receiving early support including early referral to occupational health.’
